Footwear to Avoid Winter Falls: What Seniors Need to Know

If you've been following us for a while you already know that fall prevention for seniors is our passion. We teach Fall Prevention group classes for older adults, plus a continuing education certificate course for the fitness professionals who train them. But while we do everything in our power to prevent falls and injuries by building up your strength, mobility and balance, there's one element that often gets overlooked: your footwear.

For those of us living in colder climates, the winter season poses a real threat in the form of snow, freezing rain, and ice. No matter your age or fitness level, if your boots can't grip a slippery surface, you're in danger of taking a tumble! We know all about the importance of winter tires for our cars, so why don't we pay more attention to our winter footwear? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a fashionable shoe as much as the next gal, but when it comes to safety in slippery weather, style comes second to grip.

The Real Cost of Winter Falls

The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) reported a staggering 67,418 hospital emergency department visits in Canada in 2019 due to falls on ice. They also state that "about 71% of hospital stays resulting from falls occur among the senior population age 65 and older. Seniors age 65 and older are most likely to be hospitalized for a hip fracture."

While those are pretty scary numbers, the good news is that between maintaining a fitness routine that supports strength and balance, and choosing the footwear with the best grip, you can reduce your chance of falling dramatically.

Understanding Winter Boot Grip: The Science Behind Staying Upright

So let's talk grip. Thankfully, the unbiased research on shoe brands has already been done for us, so there's no guesswork here. Scientist Sophia Yue Li from the KITE Institute (the research arm of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute at the University Health Network) has developed a rating system using a footwear 'slip test' carried out by a team of engineers, and the results are available on their website Rate My Tread.

The site explains in detail how the testing is conducted, having participants walk back and forth on an ice floor while slowly increasing the angle of the floor to achieve the 'Maximum Achievable Angle'.

What Makes Winter Boots Actually Work on Ice

In 2021 a CBC Marketplace investigation used Li's slip test on popular Canadian brands and determined that "winter boots equipped with fibre-embedded soles" fared the best on the test environment's wet, icy surface. These embedded fibres give the soles extra traction, allowing the wearer to maintain a better grip on slippery surfaces, thus reducing the chance of a fall.

So when shopping for new winter boots, these fibres are what you're looking for. As Li explains, the fibres "act as tiny spikes that can bite into the ice."

I'll save you the suspense: the current frontrunner on Rate My Tread is the brand WindRiver, sold at Mark's. Now, that doesn't mean that your existing winter footwear isn't perfectly acceptable and that you need to rush out to buy the WindRiver brand. But we would encourage you to examine the treads of your shoes and boots to ensure they're up to snuff, and replace any that are starting to wear smooth.

You can also visit the Rate My Tread site and do a search for your current footwear brand and many others to see how they're rated.

Beyond Boots: Things You Can Do to Avoid Winter Falls

We have enough to worry about when it comes to potential falls in the icy winter months, so let's minimize the risks by controlling what we can. Here's what actually works:

1. Choose the Right Footwear

As we've discussed, boots with fibre-embedded soles provide the best grip on icy surfaces. Check your current winter boots and replace any with worn treads.

2. Maintain Your Strength and Balance

Keeping up a regular exercise routine that includes strength training and balance work is essential. Even with the best boots in the world, you need the physical ability to catch yourself if you start to slip. An Olympic athlete could slip and fall in the wrong shoes, but strong muscles and good balance give you a fighting chance to recover.

3. Stay Active Year-Round

Consistency matters. The strength and balance you build in the summer months will serve you well when winter arrives. Regular training with a qualified fitness professional who understands senior fitness can make all the difference.

Your Winter Safety Checklist

• Check your boot treads for wear
• Look for fibre-embedded soles when buying new boots
• Visit Rate My Tread to research your current boots
• Maintain your regular strength and balance training
• Consider adding a fall prevention class to your routine

Stay Safe This Winter

Check your shoes, fit that workout in, and let's stay safe and healthy this winter!

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